Elon Softball Falls to ASU in Extra Innings

ELON, N.C. – An RBI single by Appalachian State’s Megan Rembielak in the top of the 11th inning proved to be the difference in the series finale between the Mountaineers and Elon softball team on Sunday, April 15, as the Phoenix suffered a 4-3 setback in its longest game of the season.

After Elon (19-14, 8-7 Southern Conference) posted three runs in the fifth and Appalachian State (17-19, 7-9 SoCon) answered with three in the sixth, the two teams went scoreless into the 11th inning.

With the international tiebreaker rule already place an inning earlier, ASU began with Lindsay Whitlock on second with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt moved her over to third, the Mountaineers’ Rembielak ripped a Kari Pervell 2-2 offering through the left side to score Whitlock from third to put the Phoenix behind, 4-3.

Carleigh Nester, who began the bottom of the 11th on second, reached third with one out following a Tomeka Watson line drive single to right field. But ASU starter Riley Carter managed to get Grace Eng and Erin O’Shea to pop out and ground out to end the threat, giving the Mountaineers their first win of the weekend series.

Carter (2-2) went all 11 innings in the circle for ASU in the win, giving up three runs (zero earned) on eight hits and three walks.

Pervell (2-2) took the loss for the Phoenix in relief after going four and two-thirds, giving up one unearned run on three hits to go along with four strikeouts.

Camille Hill went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Phoenix in the setback, while Watson finished with one hit and a RBI.

E. O’Shea pitched well in her third consecutive start, going five and one-third innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks. O’Shea finished with five strikeouts and ended the weekend series with a total of 17 for the Phoenix.

Elon capitalized on several Appalachian State fielding miscues in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Charyssa Parent scored the first run of the game after a Hill single and ASU throwing error plated her from second to make it a 1-0 game. The Phoenix added two more runs in the inning on another ASU error and a fielder’s choice to take a three-run lead.

But the Mountaineers answered in the top of the sixth, as a three-run home run to dead center by Caroline Rogers was the equalizer that ASU needed. The Mountaineers nearly took the lead later in the inning after loading the bases, but Elon reliever Caitlin O’Shea managed to get out of the jam without any further damage.

The two teams went scoreless until the top of the 11th when ASU took the final lead of the game. The Mountaineers nearly scored in the 10th after getting a runner to third with the tiebreaker rule in place, but could not cash in.

The Phoenix and Mountaineers combined for eight errors in the game, the longest of the season for Elon.

Elon returns to action on Wednesday, April 18, with a non-conference matchup with NC State at 6:30 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C.